After a rough spill into the boards last night that forced him out of the game, there's a mix of updates for Kaapo Kakko from the New York Rangers.
Kakko had some assistance leaving the ice after an awkward tumble, with his leg bending in an unsettling way and him clearly in pain. The less-than-great news is that Kakko is heading to long-term injured reserve (LTIR), which, given the scene, doesn't come as a big surprise.
On the upside, there's a silver lining – it seems he might make a comeback this season instead of being sidelined for the remainder of 2023-24. Chris Johnston sheds light on the situation, saying,
"Kaapo Kakko suffered a significant lower-body injury last night, but it could have been worse. It's not believed to be season-ending for the #NYR forward."
In other roster moves, Adam Fox is gearing up to return from LTIR and hit the ice tomorrow against Detroit. Both Kakko and Filip Chytil (retroactive to Nov. 3) will join LTIR as part of the team's maneuvering.
Despite the unsettling fall, the fact that it might not be a season-ender is a positive turn for Kakko, although the Rangers haven't disclosed the specifics of his injury yet – a broken leg is one possibility.